Navy gays
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The biggest problem with that is… sometimes the reason for discharge wasn’t put down as homosexuality.
But it was tough.”
Though Santiago had to conceal part of his identity while in the Navy, he successfully completed his first tour and began his second duty station in Belgium. “It’s important for everybody to know that we’ve always been here. “Either at the local level, at the command level, and as high as the senior level in the Pentagon, to ensure that those issues are taken care of at all levels.” USS Constitution’s commanding officer at the time, Commander William Bullard, was supportive of Santiago.
Regardless, Santiago’s difficulties persisted until the day he retired from the Navy on board USS Constitution in 2008, and those challenges continued post-retirement.
Notably, Hegseth was also a previous supporter of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
But the stats speak louder than any culture war backlash: the U.S. military has a strong, visible, and enduring LGBTQ+ presence—one that’s clearly here to stay.
The Department of Defense has made a lasting commitment to living the values we defend—to treating everyone equally—because we need to be a meritocracy. We have to focus relentlessly on our mission, which means the thing that matters most about a person is what they can contribute to national defense. —Ashton Carter, 9 June 2015 (Secretary of Defense, 17 February 2015 – 19 January 2017)
Chronology of Selected Policy Developments:
- 31 June 1951.
In Obergefell v. The Defense Department released a new policy regarding service by individuals with gender dysphoria. (Naval History and Heritage Command)
Information was taken from the Naval History and Heritage Command. We still serve with that honor, courage, and commitment, and sacrificed a lot.”
In June 2020, Santiago was invited back to USS Constitution by Commander John Benda to speak to the crew in celebration of Pride Month.
Washington, D.C., June 1992.
2 “H.R.2401 – 103rd Congress (1993-1994): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994.” November 30, 1993.
3 Oral history interview with Robert Santiago, by the USS Constitution Museum, August 16, 2022. Department of Defense Directive 1332.14 establishes a policy of mandatory discharge for service members who attempt to engage in a homosexual act.
Key working group findings on repeal implementation are released.
It was at a duty station in Puerto Rico, where his family is from, that Santiago felt he “really started to come out to myself.” Being among family and friends in a familiar culture provided Santiago the support he needed to venture out and live authentically as himself. Between long voyages, tight quarters, and the distinct uniform aesthetic (hello, stripes and flared trousers), it’s little wonder the branch is seen as a “queer powder keg.”
“In the navy, come on and join your fellow man!”
It’s not just about the numbers.
A memorandum from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta directs extension of twenty benefits to same-sex domestic partners and children of same-sex domestic partners.
During Pride Month, he controversially removed Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy vessel and opposed the promotion of the rear admiral who supported Daniels’ drag show. “It’s very important to hear these experiences. You want to talk, we can talk later.’” Santiago explains that he intentionally downplayed these interactions because “it didn’t define that sailor.”
He understood that the military often mirrors what happens in the civilian community, but sometimes the military is ahead of the civilian community.
The average across all branches of the military is slightly higher, at 6.18%.
The enduring imagery of same-sex intimacy in the military is nothing new to queer cultural lore. In his experience, adherence to DADT depended on the individual commanding officers. I called the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network [now Modern Military Association of America] at the time and I asked for advice.
But I just decided that I needed to just be myself from that point on.